Improvement in trussed standards for pianos



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E. OAKLEY.

TRUSSED STANDARDS FOR PIAITOS. N0.174,Z84:. Patented Feb. 29,1876.

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Patented Feb .29,1876.

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NPETERS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHERv WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN OAKLEY, OF LEVUKA OVALAN, FEEJEE ISLANDS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSED STANDARDS FOR PIANOS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,284, dated February 29,1876; application filed September 17 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN OAKLEY, of Levuka Ovalan, Feejee Islands, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Trussed Standa rds for Pianos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view, showing the two pieces of the standard detached, and the relative position of the trusses and Wedge. Fig. 2 is a fractional side elevation on an enlarged scale, showing the relative position of the standard to the wrest-plank, sound-board, 850. Fig. 3 is a view of a standard formed of one piece, equal in dimensions to A A in Fi l, in which Fig.3 there are two trusses on each side, fitted in grooves, with the relative formation of tapering mortises and wedges, the same being a modification of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the application ofthe cramping-blocks while the wedge is being driven in to prevent splitting. Fig. 5 shows a method of tightening the wedge by means of a screw-bolt, instead of driving it in by blows.

The object of this invention is to provide a standard which shall counteract the overhanging strain of wires and prevent curving or bending in the back of upright piano-fortes. It. consists in the combination, with upright pieces, as in Fig. 1, or one piece, as in Fig. 8, having obtuse angular groove and a tapering mortise or mortises, ot' trusses fitting in said grooves, and a wedge or wedges fitting in said mortise or mortises, and the whole so arranged as to form a rigid and secure brace for the standards, for the purpose of resisting the tension of the wires.

In the drawing, A A represent two symmetrical pieces for forming a standard, each having a longitudinal obtuse angular groove, U, and near the middle, and at the angle of the said groove, a tapering mortise, D. B Bare trusses, which are made to conform to the grooves O, and fit therein, forming a connection between the two parts of the standard.

The said trusses are nicely glued to the piecesdriven in at; the extremities of the standard from the rear, theobject of the same being to tighten the trusses.

In Fig. 3, A represents a standard, formed of one piece of suitable dimensions. There are obtuse angular grooves in the external part on both sides, and trusses fitting into these grooves, with tapering mortises and wedges, all performing similar functions, as before described, and being a modification of the same.

Pieces A A of the standard have shoulders at E,to receive and support the wrest-plank, and have notches N, to receive the sweep plank. These said pieces A A are curved inwardly from E to F, to make room for the sound-board G, care being taken to preserve as much wood as possible at E and F, as the greatest strain is at those points.

The trussed stanr'lard, as thus described, is especially adapted to vertical or upright pianos; but it is olwious that-it may equally as well be employed to perform the same function in all classes, either upright, inclined, or horizontal, at the option of the manufacturer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The trussed standard consisting of one or more pieces, A, having obtuse angular grooves O and tapering mortise or mortises I), in combination with thetrusses B B and the wedge or wedges S, substantially as and for the purposes described.

nnwm OAKLEY. Witnesses:

ALFRED LYONS, P. M.

GEO. MOORE, P. M. 

